Funeral Consumers Alliance

KSDK -- The president of a company specializing in prearranged funeral services was indicted Thursday on mail fraud charges for allegedly participating in a multi-million dollar fraud scheme. The defendant, Sharon Nekol Province of Ballwin, served as President of National Prearranged Services, Vice-President of Lincoln Memorial Services, Inc., and Director of Professional Liability Insurance Company of America (PLICA). Clients of National Prearranged Services (NPS) either purchased funeral services directly from the company of from funeral homes, who in turn purchased the services from NPS. NPS would then purchase life insurance policies in order to fund the funerals when those customers died. According to the indictment, beginning in 1998 and continuing through 2008, Province and a co-conspirator, identified as 63-year-old Randall Sutton, defrauded customers, states' guaranty funds, and funeral homes doing business with NPS. Province, 65, was indicted on five counts of mail fraud. She's expected to appear in court early next week. Meanwhile, Sutton was indicted in August on six counts of mail fraud, one count of money laundering, and two counts of wire fraud. If convicted, each count of mail and wire fraud carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and/or fines up to $250,000. The money laundering charges carry a sentence of 10 years in prison and/or fines up to $250,000. Restitution will be mandatory for the defendants. KSDK